AIM:To investigate the distribution of serum specific IgE in children with allergic conjunctivitis and associated allergic diseases.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 708 cases of allergic conjunctivitis in children, according to age divided into the infant group(2 months to 1 years old)232 cases, the children group(>1 years to 3 years old)255 cases and the preschool group(>3 years to 6 years old)221 cases. A automatic in vitro detection system was used to detect serum inhaled allergens and food allergen specific IgE by immune capture method. A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the associated allergic diseases and consultation with relevant departments.

RESULTS: The sIgE positive rate was the lowest in the infant group(87.1%). There were significant differences in the number of sIgE positive species in the infant group compared with those in the other two groups(χ²=10.96, 21.78; P<0.01). The most common allergens in all three groups were milk, egg white and household dust mites, and the positive rate of SIgE in milk was higher in the infant group than in the other two groups. The positive rate of sIgE in dust mites, house dust, tree pollen, mulberry, dog fur, egg white, pineapple and mango were higher in the preschool group than in the other two groups. The positive rate of 3-6 grade sIgE in household dust mites and house dust were higher in preschool group than that in the other two groups(P<0.01). The infant group had the highest proportion of gastrointestinal allergy(28.9%). The preschool group had the highest proportion of allergic rhinitis. The proportion with more than three kinds of allergic diseases in children group was higher than that of the other two groups(P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: With the increase of age, the positive rate and types of allergen in children with allergic conjunctivitis increased gradually. House dust mites become the primary inhalation allergen from infancy. Allergic diseases associated with allergic conjunctivitis in children are consistent with allergic march.